Town crier delivers crime prevention message

Derbyshire Constabulary is working with a local town crier to help keep Chesterfield shoppers safe this Christmas with messages of crime prevention.

The town crier – in his traditional attire of frilly shirt, cape and tricorne – has been ringing his bell and crying out safety messages in the town centre. The focus of his message relates to purse thefts, house burglary, car break-ins and positive news about crime reduction across the district.

The town crier was joined by safer neighbourhoods officers and police community support officers (PCSOs), who spoke to members of the public and gave out crime prevention advice.
Community Safety Inspector Ian Palfreyman said: “Town criers have historical links with policing and we thought we would try this traditional approach to get our advice to as many people as possible.

“We regularly use new technology but we thought this medieval method would be an innovative and fun way to get a serious crime prevention message across.

“I hope the Christmas shoppers in Chesterfield find it enjoyable yet informative and I challenge any market trader to out-cry him.”

The town crier, aptly named Henry Cryer, said: “This is the first time I have worked with the police in this sense, but it is a fantastic way to get a message across because it is unique and people respond to it.”

Town criers were a traditional sight in English towns until the 19th century, spreading the news of the day with their clear, booming voices, and were often one of the few literate townspeople. They were also the town’s official ale taster and protector of the mayor and would use their bells to ward off troublemakers, hence the phrase “his face rings a bell”.